Improvement in fire-proof shutters



W M. VARS.

Fire-Proof Shutters. N0.137,158, I PatentedMarchZ5J873.

AM. PHOTO-UTHOGEAFHIC ca Mdoasanns PRocEss) UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

. WASHINGTON M. VARS, OF WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-PROOF SHUTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,158; dated March 25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WASHINGTON M. VARs,

of Westerly, in the county of Washington and the spread of fires from one building to another.

It is well known that the windows and doors of buildings (especially the former) serve as entrance-ways for fire, as ingreat conflagrations the windows, even when provided with the ordinary sheet-iron shutters, serve the same purpose. The iron shutter twists and curls under the fierce heat and soon' leaves the building exposed to the flames.

My invention consists in a water-tank shutter, and in a water-conducting cap to the window or door, the construction and arrangement being as hereinafter more fully set forth and described.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a front view of a window provided with myimproved shutter, the latter being open to show the inner side. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the lines 00 a: and 3 y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view, showing the window-cap. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of Fig. 2, taken on the line 2 z.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the window-openin g. the building. 0 is the window-cap. D is the improved shutter. This shutter consists main- 1y of two plates, E and F, separated by the water-tight space G. H is a flange, which surrounds the shutter and fits onto the wall when the shutter is closed, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4.. The outer plate E may be bent or curved at its outer edge so as to form this flange, and the edge of the inner plate F may be bent up to this flange and soldered thereto, or the flange may be a separate piece, as may be found convenient.

I do not confine myself to any particular manner or mode of forming the shutter; I simply make it water-tight, or nearly so.

B is the wall of I is a recess on the, inner side, in which is a valve or water-cock, J, for discharging the water after a fire. K and L are recesses for receiving the bolts for fastening the shutter; but the water-discharge and the fastening devices may be arranged in any other suitable manner, either with or without recesses.

The water enters the shutter from the cap 0, which is open at the top as seen in Fig. 2. The cap therefore acts as a conductor to convey the water thrown against the wall of the building into the shutter. The discharge-cock J being closed, the shutter may be kept full during a fire. Steam will, of course, be generated, but the water will flow in by its own gravity, while the steam will escape through the opening above. There may be holes through the front plate at the top of the shutter for the discharge of the steam. The windows of the building, therefore,instead of being the weakest and most inviting point for the flames to enter, become the safest part.

'Although designed more especially for windows, this shutter and cap may be applied to doors as well.

The flange H is designed to lap onto the wall so as exclude the flame. After a fire the shutters are opened and the water drawn off, as before described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A hollow water-tight shutter, D, open at the top and having a controllable water-dis charge at the bottom, as and for the purpose described.

2. The conducting-cap G, in combination with a tank-shutter, constructed substantially as shown and described.

3. A shutter, D, provided with the recesses K L and flange H, as and for the purpose described.

WASHINGTON MONROE VARS.

Witnesses JEssE B. BREED, E. F. LEWIS. 

